Where did summer go?

It's the last full week before I have to head back to work. I love what I do but I also enjoy my time with my girls. As I sit here drinking my coffee, I was thinking what a busy summer it has been. Summer started the day after school was out. (Duh, I know but we were on a plane the next morning.) So summer really took off. We went to the beach in Florida to spend some time with my grandparents, parents, my little family and other family. It was great! Thanks Grandma Wanda and Grandpa Ralph for making it such a time of memories and opening up your home.

They enjoyed the beach!

We had to visit the most magical place on Earth. One day was plenty.

After family vacation, I went to Dinah Zike Foldable© training in Comfort, Texas. It was a lot of fun and I I learned a lot. If you ever take a trip to Comfort, don't go the first part of the week everything is closed. During the week my parents celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary. The week after my trip to Comfort it was time to get everything ready for the anniversary party. It turned out great. I had the help of some family and friends to pull it off. 

Great family pics while we were celebrating. My friend Christi took pictures for us.  Love my family!

I'm going to toot my own horn, I made this cake! It was a wedding cake/ carrot cake. 

We had a lot of food, dancing, and good fellowship. 

Myla also started dance. My little photo bug!

The next two weeks were just craziness. We decided to run a firework stand with some friends. If you are thinking about it in the future, STOP that thought right now! The extra money was nice but we were married to that stand for 12 days and NIGHTS. Brynlee's second birthday was the day after we closed the stand.

Minnie Mouse party

Finally a few days to rest but not for long. Since I moved schools and grades, I have had to go work a few days in my classroom. Mostly unpacking boxes and finding a new home for everything. I was also blessed to spend a few days training other teachers. That is one of my favorite things to do. Spent a few (I mean a few) afternoons at the pool. Myla's dance class had an end of the summer "recital" for the parents.

We spent a few afternoons in Amarillo before Myla's surgery. 

 

School clothes shopping with Memo

Silly Girls

Myla had her tonsils out on Tuesday and here we are. It is our last week of summer. As I reflect on our busy summer I'm so thankful. We have had opportunities and time with friends and family that we will never forget. We have had good days and long days but it is a time I wouldn't trade for anything. Having a two year-old and a four year-old makes for interesting days. My summer = blessed! The school year seems to be a busy time and there isn't always time to sit and bask in the small moments. My goal this school year, slow down and take time to enjoy!  Have a blessed school year and I hope your summer was filled with memories. 

Out They Came

Myla got her tonsils out yesterday. She was not looking forward to the whole procedure. She was excited that everyone came to see her.

Myla got her "happy juice." It was one extreme or the other. She would be really silly and then be weepy. 

Myla really liked the mask she got to play with before going back.

Right after surgery. She was needing her daddy!

Mmmm! Eating popsicles so she can get her iv out and go home. 

As a mom, we don't like to see our babies in pain. It was a very emotional day for everyone but we are glad we can put it behind us. Her tonsils were really big according to the doctor. The nurse couldn't believe that something so big came out of such a little girl. We have been incredibly blessed with the best family and friends. We had a waiting room full and so many calls and texts from those that couldn't be there physically.

I think Myla is enjoying the special treatment and the treats! She has got gifts and sweet treats from such sweet family and friends. (She might be kinda sad to get better!)

Thanks for all who have made this not so fun time much better! Love to you all!

Eeek!

Eeek! It has been entirely to long since I have posted anything. Sad is what it is. So much has happened since December but it would take a much longer blog than anyone would care to read. Here is the skinny on what's happened/ changed in the Swan world.

Myla is now four and will be in K-4 this next year. She is a little social bug and can't wait to play with friends. She also started ballet/tap this summer and loves it. 

Brynlee is two and is still her ornery little self. She loves shoes, markers and lipstick. All but the shoes get her in trouble from time to time. 

For those that don't know, I'm starting a new journey this school year. I will be teaching kindergarten at a new school. I'm hoping, if I hold my tongue just right, to blog my journey through kindergarten. Hopefully others can share in my successes and learn from my mistakes. Oh and I'll be done with graduate school this fall!! (No homework may mean more time to blog.) Enjoy what's left of summer. 

"Listen to advice and accept instruction and in the end you will be wise." Proverbs 19:20

Christmas Festivities

Myla's school program

Christmas Eve before going to Great's

Myla at Great's house

Brynlee and her new baby

It's hard to believe that December has come and it is almost time to start the new year. What a month of blessings. I know I'm a little behind, well a lot behind but I wanted to share our December with you.

The month started off with day care and school programs. Myla came home singing in preparation for her big moment. She really got into the performance. Myla sure loved to sing and dance for everyone!

We had a few Christmas parties in there with work friends and then a few get togethers with friends. After all the programs it was time to start in with Christmas celebrations. Five of them to exact.

First Christmas~

Our first Christmas was at my grandpa's house. Our girls call him "Great." So we had a house full with a lot of yummy food. We ate and opened presents. It was time to get the girls ready for bed so Santa could come. Before going to bed we opened one last gift from Grammie and Papa. It was our Christmas jammies.

Second Christmas~

We woke up to a white Christmas. Christmas morning at our house was a blast. My parents, grandpa and Aunt Gayla and Uncle Ben came to spend the morning with us. Everyone wore their jammies and Santa had made a stop to our house. The girls were excited! Brynlee would open a present and then want to play for awhile before opening another. Brynlee got a new stroller and baby. Myla asked Santa for a Barbie house. She was so happy when she saw it.

The girls Christmas morning

Girls sitting in their new cop car

Third Christmas~

Hudson and Myla

On the road to Spearman we went after our morning of Christmas fun. It was a wet snowy drive. We got to Spearman to have more fun. Myla and Brynlee had fun with their cousins. When we got back home Myla said, "I had fun with my brothers." She hasn't figured out the lingo yet. None the less she had a blast. 

Fourth Christmas~

We have been blessed with many wonderful friends over the years. We were able to spend an evening with the Wright's and their family. We opened more presents and spent time hanging out. The girls had fun as usual. 

Myla, Brynlee, Ashton, Darby and Catyn

Fifth Christmas~

Our bonus family came in from Maryland a couple days after Christmas. That has been a blessing. We are so happy to have them in our family. Aunt Michelle couldn't make it but we were able to Skype with here while we had Christmas present time. The girls have really taken up with Grandma Wanda and Grandpa Ralph. They played tea party, babies and what ever else they could talk them into playing. 

Great, Papa, Grandma Wanda, Grandpa Ralph and the Girls

As I look back on this last month it really sums up our year and how blessed we are. We have wonderful friends and family. We have a bonus family that we have had the pleasure of spending time with. This year has brought laughter and so many joys. Our girls light up our world and make each day a gift. Thanks to all who have helped make our Christmas a truly joyous time and 2012 a blessed year.

Happy New Year from our family to yours!

Baby Steps~

Brynlee has started walking. This is exciting but in the same breath sad. My baby isn't a baby anymore. Let me guess, I'm not the only mom in the world who has had that feeling. One day you are anticipating their arrival and you blink and they start school, go off to college and someday married. I'm not trying to get ahead of myself by an means. Brynlee is just walking not walking down the aisle but sometimes life just goes so quickly.

As a mother I finally somewhat understand when God talks about time being like a blink of an eye. Life goes so quickly. Watching her walk across the room makes me stop and think. Am I stopping to take notice of everything around me or so busy that a week, month or even years have passed before stopping to take things in? As she walks, she is careful. She's mindful of every step she takes. She doesn't run. If she gets in to big of a hurry and doesn't take her time she falls. Aren't we all like that in someway? We sometimes get ahead of ourselves and take off to fast. Sometimes it is when we take on to much or are to tired. Sometimes we don't even realize we are trying to run instead of walk slowly and carefully, mindful or every step.

As I said in a previous post I had some goals this year. One of them was to live for today. Maybe watching those baby steps is a reminder to take those small steps towards a goal. Knowing that kids grow everyday, makes me realize how important this goal is. Tomorrow will worry about its self and we can't change yesterday. What are we left with? Today! Praise the Lord I have been given another day on this Earth. Maybe small mindful steps are what is needed to get to this goal. 

Live for today~ You are the only you the world will meet so make the most of you and share your goodness with those around you. 

Goodbye summer...

 A summer filled with joy~

What a fun and fabulous summer this has been. Tomorrow is the last day of no agenda, no alarm clocks and naps. As I look back at the summer I can't help but smile. We celebrated birthdays, anniversaries, time with friends and family, and days at the pool.

 

For many summer may just be another season, but for me it is a time I'm thankful to spend with my family and friends. I can remember my first job after college and I had to work all summer. It was not fun. I remember whining to Landon that it stinks not being off in the summer and for all the holidays. That's a feeling don't think I would have have forgotten. But as a few years passed I had gotten used to working year round. Once I started teaching, I had forgot what it was like to be off in the summer. Oh, but I quickly remembered!

This summer we celebrated 7 years of marriage. We went to Chicago with wonderful friends. We even went to a game at Wrigley Field and had a blast. Brynlee celebrated her 1st birthday and is trying to walk. Myla is running and trying to learn to swim. Well, she's come a long way since last summer. She will at least get in and not panic, still not getting her face wet. All moments this momma would have missed if I wasn't blessed with the best job.

As Thursday quickly approaches, I will remind myself of the good times we have had over the last few months and be thankful that I get to be home with my kids when I can. Each year people set goals. Maybe this is supposed to be done on January 1 but my year runs a little different and I like to set goals when I start back to work. It's like a fresh start. Goals come from different places for all of us. My goals aren't to lose weight or be the fastest runner, not saying I don't need to do any of those but my goals are little different. So here are a few of the goals I have these next few months...

Be more patient~ life doesn't have to be so rushed, take time to just soak it in.

Be more thankful~ busyness often takes away from the blessings that are right in front of us, so take time to be thankful in the little things

Smile~ even when life gets crazy and the girls are being 1 and 3, just smile because these moments are the ones that will last a lifetime and we can't get them back

Live for today~ God doesn't promise us tomorrow and we can't live in the past. Make the most of everyday. Call a friend who may need a word of encouragement, be kind to a stranger and hold your loved ones whenever possible. 

Maybe you have similar goals or haven't thought about some. Whatever you do, do it with a smile and a happy heart. Be blessed~

God's Timing is Perfect~

Brynlee, Mom, Faith, Dad, Grandma Wanda, Aunt Michelle,
Myla, me, & Grandpa Ralph

Bonus Family~

It's hard to believe that four days have passed and we have had to say good-bye, for now. We have had a blessed weekend with laughs, tears, joys, and a lot of catching up. 

God is seldom early but always right on time. 

We have opened a new chapter in our life book this weekend. It is one that is not complete but just the beginning. It was wonderful to see how awesome God is and there is no doubt in my mind that God has the perfect plan for our life, even when we don't always understand. It was a privilege to watch it all unfold. God has blessed us with a bonus family. As my mom says, "they aren't new family because they have always been there so they are our bonus family." 

The time spent together was good. If felt like we had known each other for a long time and were trying to catch up. The girls fell in love with them and enjoyed playing with them. Myla asked tonight when they were coming to grammie and papa's to eat. So I think it was a successful meeting for the girls. What an awesome journey we have begun and memories that have been made. I can't wait to see everyone again and write more in this chapter. 

"The Lord will work out his plans for my life-- for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever." Psalms 138:8